The Final Push

With only two days left in the summer transfer window, it felt like a final exam. The top clubs had stopped writing and handed in their papers, while the strugglers were still scrambling.

AC Milan was still haggling with Manchester City over the transfer fee for Balotelli. The media in Italy and England were covering the transfer drama intensively. Milan fans eagerly awaited Balotelli's arrival, seeing the Italian bad boy as the team's savior after two consecutive losses with no goals scored.

Meanwhile, Arsenal also took action. According to Wenger's plan, it would be best to buy Louis Dupont. If AC Milan didn't want to sell, they could negotiate a loan.

When Galliani, already stressed about finding two million euros, received Arsenal's offer, he was momentarily stunned.

"Louis Dupont, five hundred thousand euros?" Galliani muttered. He rubbed his chin, recalling the young player's image in his mind.

How shrewd he was, Galliani sensed Arsenal's determination from the low offer. Although the price was modest, it indicated their serious interest.

"They're worried about him after those two goals, huh?" Galliani muttered. He quickly decided, "If it's less than two million, there's no need to discuss it."

Louis had talent, but he wasn't Messi, Ronaldo, or even Ronaldo Nazário, whose potential was immediately clear. Even talented players don't always become superstars. Look at "New Messi" Bojan, who joined the team this season. Despite being a prodigy at La Masia, he had been loaned out repeatedly over the years.

Talent is one thing, but realizing it in the professional leagues is another. If selling a seventeen-year-old Louis for two million euros could help AC Milan secure Balotelli from Manchester City, it was a no-brainer.

"Two million?" Wenger was a bit surprised—not by the amount, but by how easily AC Milan was willing to sell Louis. 

Two million euros for a seventeen-year-old with no professional league experience was expensive, especially with only twenty-four hours left in the transfer window. Yet, Louis had an EU passport and didn't need a work permit.

Wenger gritted his teeth and made the call. "Two million it is!"

He knew he was betting on Louis's future, but he trusted his instincts. Louis had an exceptional sense of goal-scoring. Players with that natural talent were rare and valuable.

Galliani received the two-million-euro offer and immediately regretted not asking for more. Should he sell Louis to bring in Balotelli?

He decided to call Allegri. "If you had to choose between Louis Dupont and Balotelli, who would you choose?"

Allegri was puzzled by the question but quickly saw the logic. Any coach would choose Balotelli, given his proven track record with Inter Milan and Manchester City, and his status as an Italian international.

"Why choose?" Allegri asked. "Can't we have both?"

Galliani explained Arsenal's offer: two million for Louis, which could then be used to finalize Balotelli's transfer.

Allegri was speechless. He knew the club was short on money but hadn't realized it was this dire. 

Does Allegri have another choice? Louis might be the future of AC Milan, but Allegri's future depended on current results. If his team didn't perform well, he wouldn't have a future in Milan. So, selling Louis for Balotelli was the logical choice.

The gears of fate began to turn. Years later, Milan fans would criticize this decision, seeing it as the start of the club's decline. But at that moment, neither Galliani nor Allegri thought their decision was wrong—Balotelli was undeniably better than Louis at that point.

Louis was notified by the club at the end of the day's training: AC Milan had accepted Arsenal's offer, and he could now negotiate a contract with them.

Louis was confused. He had been thinking about finding an agent to help him, but now Arsenal had come to him. Considering Arsenal's current situation—a coach who develops young players and a forward line with inconsistent finishers like Giroud, Chamberlain, and Walcott—joining Arsenal seemed promising.

Louis decided to seek his uncle's opinion. Inzaghi was furious when he heard AC Milan was selling Louis, but after calming down, he agreed Arsenal would be a good fit. They needed a reliable striker, and Louis could potentially become a starter. Wenger had a reputation for nurturing young talent.

Just then, Louis's phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hello Louis, I'm Arsène Wenger."